Fence post



June 30, 1936.

Y F. J. CZEMBA v FENCE POST Filed May 21, 1934 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to anchor posts, and has special reference to oneadapted for use as a fence post or the like, the same being providedwith novel means for cooperation with a wire fence.

The principal object is to provide a post of this character of as lightweight as possible in proportion to its sustaining strength.

Another object is to provide such a post or stake capable of easyconstruction and in which the reinforcing elements do not detract fromthe appearance of the post, and which are adapted to perform a doublefunction, operating both as reinforcements to withstand collapsingstrain on the post and also as clip cooperating means for attaching thewire to the post.

Another object is to provide such a post having maximum moisturedrainage facilities at points of contact between the cooperatingportions of the post and wire.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description thereof.

It is known that the prior art discloses posts of much the same generalappearance and which have been widely known as practical andsatisfactory posts, for example such as illustrated in my former PatentNumber 1,852,910, dated April 5, 1932, on a substantially U-shaped post,but the present invention resides in material improvements upon such apost in the formation of a substantially truncated A-shaped post.

It should also be noted that the present application is a continuationin part of my formerly filed application Serial No. 644,989, filedNovember 30, 1932.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of thisapplication and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view on the line l--l, Figure 2, showingthe wire holder or keeper in position within the post.

Figure 2 is a section of the line 2-2, of Figure 1.

These posts are formed of rolled metal and require the followingcharacteristics; simplicity of construction; maximum tortional strengthcommensurate with lightness; adaptability to the supporting of wirefencing; and moisture drainage between the cooperating surfaces of thepost, fence wires, and wire attaching means. The matter of generalappearance is'also material, though not coverable by a mechanicalpatent.

In the U-shaped post covered by my former patent, supra, series ofnotches are formed on opposite edges of the flanges of the post byuniform convolutions longitudinally thereof, these notches obviouslybeing for the purpose of registering with or receiving the longitudinalwires of fencing, which are securely fastened to the postby bindingwires, not shown, but common in the art. In this respect the instantinvention materially dilTers, in that the opposite edges of the flangesof the post are straight and uniform, while the faces only of theflanges are slightly undulatory, and the notches for the reception ofthe fencing are provided by a longitudinally disposed scalloped areaintermediate the width of the outer face of the flanges and the bodyportion of the post. These scallops or undulations are formed by spacedindentations longitudinally of the face of the flanges, resulting in ahump on one side and an indentation on the other; it being assumed thatthe body portion of the post extends forwardly of the flanges.

The body portion of the post is'illustrated at I, the face at 2, and theflanges at 3, while the notches or indentations forming the longitudinalscallops on the back of the flanges are illustrated at 4, resulting inthe notches 5 intermediate of the scallops or humps 6 to form line'wirereceiving seats.

While I have shown the indentations as being somewhat arcuate in form,it is obvious that they may be either round, square, wedge-shaped, oroblong as desired, and when applied to the post flanges but slightlychanges the general shape thereof, and that without any additional stockfor formation of the scalloped or notched flanges, which is a materialadvantage, and also that the protruding or outer edges of the postflanges are uniform and substantially straight. It will be noted that inthe rolling process, somewhat distorted conditions of the metal result,so that the apex of each projection or hump is less in thickness thanthe normal thickness of the flange, but which, of course, may be variedby changing the form of the rolls.

Now as a combined reinforcing and wire attaching clip mounting means forthe post, ma terially increasing its resistance against tortionalstress, two parallel ribs 1 are formed extending inwardly from the bodyportion and approximately midway the opposite extremities of the upperface thereof ;to provide adequate drain'-' age of moisture in theeventof its becoming wet, I

as this feature'of drainage is one of material.

. post. The inner walls of these ribs are inclined U as at 8 forconvenience in the rolling process and to form supports for the wireattaching clips hereinafter described, as the post bar is graduallycontracted during'its formation from a substantially flat bar to theultimate truncated A shape desired. r r

r The clip, insertablewithin the post at, any

point from the back thereof, is illustrated at 9,

and is provided with a body portion I0 of an outlinelsimilar in shape tothe interior of the post, it being formed with inclined shoulders forabutting engagement with the similarly shaped inner walls of the ribs 1,as shown at. 8 in Figure l of the drawing. This clip is novel in that itis provided with a comparatively large central hole ll through the bodyportion I0, I

which hole is concaved or countersunk from the importance in the instantinvention. .To'further such drainage the finger like extension of theclip, substantially midwayits ends, is-made.

concavo-convex, and the convex surface thereof is opposite to that ofthe countersunk hole in the-body portion. This shape of the finger isabout same; that is, a joint that would tend to distinctly showninFigure 5 of the drawing, and, asis obvious, is to-prevent forming aclosed, joint between the finger and the wire when it is bent holdmoisture by capillary attraction, as, when a finger, thus shaped, isbent about the wire, only the central portion thereof engages-thelatter, the edges being, spaced slightly therefrom as clearly shown. 7

Still another feature of novelty in connection" withthis combination ofwire and post is that the indentations 4, whichform the scallops .6,

' are more or lesscontinuous intermediate of said scallops, as clearlyshown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of this application, as well asin Figures 1,i and5 of application, Serial 644,989, of b which this is a continuationin part;

The .continuation of the depression or notch forms somewhat of a ribintermediate of the scallops 6 on the back-side of the post, and whichrib functions to keep the wire away from the :flat face of theflanges 3as clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawing, thusproviding water drainage under the wire. r

I am aware that somewhat similarly shaped clips; have been made to holda wire against the back of a post, but this, I believe, has only been'them useless after but short service.

, Furthermore it will be apparent that an A used in conjunctionwith awedging member for retaining the clips in position, Such an assembly isobviously inadequate and does not provide for theexpansionandcontraction ofthe post during changes in temperature, which would rendershaped post of the specific structure shown,

7, shaving inwardly opposed ribs for both adding strength to the postand for holding, means for,

-cated .A shaped in cross section having longithe clips, in conjunctionwith laterally extend-s ing flanges having means integrally formedtherewith for holding wire fencing in spaced, relation therefrom,provides a most ideal fence post. a T f It might also be herestated thatexhaustive tests have shown. conclusively that posts constructed inaccordance with-applicants 'disclosure herein, having an efiective'areaof section of .42 sq. in. and weighingper foot 1.4112 pounds, have afargreater polar moment of inertia or polar sectionmodulus than anyother competing.

post known to applicant; thus he has provided b a post having markedadvantages 'in the trade.

Having, thus described my. invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. 'A rolled metal section suitable for fence posts andthe like havinga. flange extending from either side of said section with a row oflongitu'din'ally extending arcuate indentations formed in the face ofeach-flange intermediate the side edges thereof forming humpson thebackfof the flanges between which humps areformed seats to receive afence wire, and a pair of oppositely I edges of its side walls to; formcombined 'reinforcing members and supports for a wire attaching V l vclip.

3. A rolled metal fence post substantiallytrun;

tudinal laterally extending ribs on the inner facesand between the edgesof its side wallsrto form combined reinforcement and wire-attaching clipsupports the inner faces of said ribs vbeing b yinclined inwardlytowards each other and the "outer faces being parallel.

4. A rolledmetal section suitable for; fence posts and the like havingaflange extending therefrom with a row of longitudinally'extendingindentations formed in theface of said flange providing-humps onthe backof saidflange between which humps are formed seats to receive a fencewire, longitudinalinwardly extending ribs formed upon said section, andclips engage able behindsaid ribs for hooked engagement with a fencewire and adapted to hold said wire inits seat. r

5.- A rolled metal section suitablefor fence," I posts' and the likehaving a' flange extending therefrom with a longitudinallyextending rowof spacedarcuate indentations pressed out-of the plane of theflange-lathe flange area intermediate the; side edges thereof,providing, humps on the back, of the flanges between which a fence wiremay be supported, and eribsrolle'd upon 0P9.

posite sides of said section-and adapted" to support awire attachingclip.;;

FRANK J. CZEMBA.

V '30 tending'ribs onthe inner faces and between the 1

